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Archiver > PADUTCH-LIFE > 2001-12 > 1009777450


From: "Vee L. Housman" <>
Subject: [PD-LIFE] How I learned to count
Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 00:44:10 -0500


Dear Group,

I was talking with my niece Deb this evening and she mentioned that last
night they played Monopoly at their house and just the subject of Monopoly
brought back memories to me. I can't tell you how long ago it has been
since I played Monopoly, but I can tell you that when I played it last we
played with the metal "markers" in the shape of a shoe or a car or an iron
or the other ones that I now forget. I even had to ask Deb to refresh my
memory in that I seemed to remember that dice were involved in the game.

When she let me know that the game involved a toss of the dice, it all came
back to me. Not only Boardwalk and Park Place and Marvin Gardens but the
dice themselves. You see, it was back in the 1930s when our family started
to play Monopoly. I was only around three or four years old and I guess I
was included in the playing of the game. And that's when I learned how to
count, by counting the dots on the dice. Unless you could count up the
dots, you didn't know how many spaces you could advance. And I was a quick
learner! Nonetheless, I've never admitted to anyone that I learned to count
because of a dice game!

In fact, I have something else that I have never confessed to before. I
also learned how to play cards at about the same age. Before I was five
years old, I was familiar with cards. Sure I used to play "Fish" or "Old
Maid" with little Paddy Halloran who lived on the corner of the alley, but
more than that I watched my parents playing poker with their friends and I
became aware of the rules of the game. Although I don't personally remember
the incident, my parents frequently reminded me of the time when I was
looking over my father's shoulder at the poker hand that he held and I
remembered the cardinal rule that had already been impressed upon me.
Therefore, my only comment was, "Don't worry Daddy, I won't tell anyone you
that you have two aces." I wasn't even five years old!

Frankly, I still giggle over the thought of that incident! Lordy me, it
makes me feel so good to write down such old memories!!
vee

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